Durham, UNH sign new pact on Main Street project

DURHAM — The town and the University of New Hampshire are hitting reset on the 66 Main Street redevelopment.

UNH officials will soon issue a request for proposals asking developers to submit potential projects for the vacant 1.2-acre parcel in the heart of downtown Durham.

Meanwhile, UNH and the town of Durham have signed a letter of intent, codifying shared goals for the property, which was home to the former Alpha Tao Omega fraternity house. UNH paid $2.1 million for the property in 2014.

The revamped redevelopment effort came together in the last six months after the two parties severed ties with the previously chosen developer for the site. That decision came after it became clear previous plans for a mixed use development on the site weren’t financially viable.

David May, associate vice president for business affairs at UNH, suggested officials there learned from earlier challenges with the site.

“I think the first go at it was way too complicated and we were asking way too much,” May said Monday, adding that the goal this time “is to make it simpler.”

“The spirit of when we send this RFP is, here are a few things we think are important to consider, but tell us what you would do with this land with all of these goals in mind,” May said.

Rather than stipulating specific improvements for the redevelopment, the new letter of intent codifies six shared goals between UNH and the town. The first calls for development of a hotel on the site to partner with the university's hospitality program, and the second backs new commercial space and parking.

In the letter, the two parties agreed future development on the parcel must meet town zoning requirements and architectural guidelines, giving Durham a degree of input in the project. The agreement also says new development should generate revenue for Durham, either through property taxes or a payment in lieu of taxes.

May said the university also wants to see a restaurant built as part of the project to support any future hotel.

Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig considers the letter "a handshake agreement" between the town and university. He agrees the new arrangement could streamline the redevelopment process.

"The old (memo of understanding) talked about having green space and bike racks and there were just a long list of deliverables we were hoping for," Selig said. "Unfortunately, that long list of deliverables became so expensive and unfeasible it wasn't possible to do the project."

Added Selig, "I think this is a very good way to move forward."

May expects the university will ask developers to submit proposals in the coming months, and it could be early 2018 before a developer is chosen. Based on that timeline, even in a best case scenario, construction likely wouldn’t begin for more than a year.

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